Chris Robanske from North Vancouver, B.C. finished first in Saturday’s World Cup Event. Photo: Facebook.

FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup winner Chris Robanske takes first in Qualifiers and first overall in today’s race.

By Jack Zenert

It has been six long years since a Canadian male has crossed the finish line first in a World Cup Event. Chris Robanske from North Vancouver, B.C. stood atop the podium today, as another step in his most successful season in years.

It was a riveting race – one that spectators and even Chris Robanske did not know he would win as he had lost momentum from an early jump in the race.

He was behind the pack of four top racers and as he went into a toe side bank – he cut sharply moving himself into the lead. From there it was a matter of ‘Tuck, Tuck, Tuck’ as he rocketed to the finish line.

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Chris Robanske was happy that the win came in Canada – at the Blue Mountain FIS SBX event. This is one of the Canadian team’s favourite events.

Chris Robanske had many friends and family in the crowd. It was like a mob around him at the end of the race.

On the Women’s Snowboard Cross side – the red hot Maelle Ricker cooled down this weekend but managed to end up in fourth place, while teammate Dominique Maltais came second to Eva Samkova of the Cxech Republich.

Ricker had a strong start in the women’s Snowboard Cross final and was in second place when Dominique Maltais cut inside and pass both her and Samkova. Shortly after Ricker lost her edge and took a tumble – which was too much to make up. Maltais kept pushing hard to the finish, but Samkov passed her on one of the final turns.

Dominique Maltais was happy with the second even though she had won the Blue Mountain SBX World Cup last year. She feels her and Ricker are both riding well and are looking good for the Olympic Games next year in Sochi, Russia.